The Labour Party's VAT policy will lead to a “deluge” of pupils entering state schools, with London and the south of England hit the hardest, according to the findings of a new analysis by The Telegraph. In several parts of the country, state schools would run out of space completely within five years of the policy being introduced, according to the paper's calculations. The article features a table displaying the areas most likely to be affected, which include the constituencies of Hampstead and Highgate, Kensington and Bayswater and the cities of London and Westminster. Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, CEO of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), told the paper that headteachers are concerned about families being forced to withdraw their children from independent schools because they will no longer be able to afford the fees. Urging Labour to make the tax policy more “nuanced” and to make exceptions for "schools with low fees, schools with special needs, for schools which are economically fragile already", Mr Eliott Lockhart added: “The point is if you are pushed out of the independent sector, you don’t get that level of choice in the state sector. If your child’s needs are being met really well in the independent sector, it is a real shame – it is tough on the child to go from a school that is working really well for them to one that is not as well suited to their needs.” By Camilla Turner and Ollie Corfe. 

The Sunday Times reports that independent schools forced to close could become state-run under plans being developed by the architects of the Labour Party's flagship manifesto promise. The Private Education Policy Forum (PEPF) think tank has advised Labour on its policy and is reportedly developing proposals that will look at “routes to conversion” for independent schools that decide to join the state sector, particularly those left struggling with the increase in fees. A spokesman said that “changes to VAT and ethical imperatives among head teachers may encourage some schools to switch”. By Sian Griffiths and Venetia Menzies.

Leader of Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar has said that taxing independent school fees would provide a “much-needed” immediate cash injection into the state sector that would be used to recruit more teachers. Dismissing concerns that children would be displaced into state schools as a result of the tax policy, Mr Sarwar said: “I genuinely believe it will balance itself out. Enrolment into private schools has gone up in the past year rather than down, contrary to the scaremongering.” Reference is made to the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS), which believes that the introduction of VAT will shrink the fee-paying sector by 13 per cent. By Jeremy Watson, The Times.

In a segment discussing Labour's tax plans on the BBC's JVS Show, listener Katherine explains how she would struggle to afford the rising cost of fees should the party come to power. The JVS Show is hosted by Jonathan Vernon-Smith. Listen from the start.

In an article for BBC News, World at One presenter Sarah Montague asked two education experts for their responses to the question: "Would Labour's private school tax plan work?" Ms Montague spoke with Sam Freedman, former adviser to Michael Gove, who is in favour of the proposed VAT charge, and Kristina Murkett, an English teacher at an independent school, who is against. Their conversation was first broadcast on Monday 17 June on BBC Radio 4's World At One. 

Writing in The Times, chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) Dominic Norrish explains why he believes Labour's tax policy should "exempt independent schools with fewer than 200 pupils". Noting that the average member of the ISC is likely to be a day school with fewer than 300 primary-age pupils, Mr Norrish adds there are "about 500 schools in the ISC with fewer than 200 pupils, including special schools, faith schools and rural schools". He warns that "parents wouldn’t have an equivalent choice if they were to disappear" and says these smaller schools would only add roughly 10 per cent of the funds Labour is hoping to raise from taxing fees. Mr Norrish concludes: "A one-size-fits-all approach to VAT on fees is likely to accidentally result in the closure of many small schools and a net loss to the income Labour needs for its state school plans."

Headmaster of Ludgrove School Simon Barber has warned that Labour’s plan to add 20 per cent VAT to fees would “discriminate” against the independent sector. Mr Barber said: “We should be celebrating all schools that are successful – whether they are in the state or independent sector, single sex or co-ed. I’ve taught in both sectors and I believe happy schools are good schools.” He also warned Labour’s tax plan would negatively affect the “many outstanding independent and state school partnerships around the UK” and collaborations with the local community which may no longer be affordable. Over three-quarters of ISC member schools are involved in partnership activities with local schools, the article states. By Elizabeth Ivens and Poppy Wood, The Telegraph.

Mark Whelan, director of St George's Preparatory School, has told BBC News that Labour's tax plans could lead to larger classes in state schools. Mr Whelan warned: "Parents make huge sacrifices to get their children into our school and because we're fee-paying the knock-on effect of 20 per cent is absolutely vast." By Sharon Edwards.

Headmistress of St Swithun's School Jane Gandee was interviewed alongside three state school headteachers about Labour's tax policy on BBC Radio Solent. Ms Gandee said it is important to "think of the children" who may have to change school as a result of the policy. One state school headteacher said she believes Labour has not researched the policy "properly", as the next government would have to source per-pupil funding for children displaced from the independent sector. Another explained how her school has already started opening its doors to families leaving the independent sector, saying "they've invested a lot, they've seen a pathway ahead for their children and their education and now that's taken away from them". Listen from 1:47:45.

Writing to The Times, Lord Lexden calls for Labour to clarify what it would do if the Office for Budget Responsibility found that the proposal to add VAT to school fees "will add to the state sector's overall costs by driving large numbers of private school pupils into it". The president of the ISA writes: "A fiscally responsible government would at that point abandon the tax. If it persisted, it would show that the policy was driven by sheer prejudice against independent schools. Labour must make its position on this clear."

In a separate letter, former principal of Moreton Hall Jonathan Forster warns of the policy's potential impact on smaller schools. He writes: "As head of a small private school I was able to raise sufficient funds to build a community theatre available to all who lived on each side of the Welsh/English border. It took ten years to raise funds and would never have got off the ground if the school and parents had needed to find the money to pay for VAT and business rates. The theatre thrives as a centre for drama, literature and music in north Shropshire, but for how long?"

Sue Thompson from Suffolk also writes on the subject of Labour's VAT policy. Highlighting the sacrifices already being made by many parents choosing independent schools for their children, she states: "It is far from being a luxury to those parents who choose to spend taxed income on school fees, in many cases giving up on 'luxuries' to do so." The letters appear half-way down the page.

In a letter to The Telegraph, headmaster of Wells Cathedral School Alastair Tighe speaks of his attempts to engage with Labour on its policy, saying: "Despite my best efforts, reaching out on numerous occasions to a number of individuals, Labour has not reciprocated my engagement." He concludes: "My colleagues and I wholeheartedly agree with Labour’s desire to improve the educational provision for every child in this country, and we stand ready to work with them to find creative ways of achieving this. But we need the party to engage with us." 

On the issue of teacher recruitment, Andrew Gardiner from Oxfordshire warns: "Labour wishes to put in jeopardy the education of thousands of private school pupils in order to increase the number of teachers by 1.39 per cent, adding 0.22 teachers per school." Both letters appear just above half-way.

Headmaster of Rugby School Gareth Parker-Jones has also had a letter published in The Times in which he warns of the impact Labour's policy would have on areas including the provision of partnerships, bursaries and the arts. He writes: "Many of our students - more than one in eight - are on means-tested bursaries and we share our expertise and facilities with local state schools. We believe that the arts are an integral part of an inspirational education. It seems that none of our political parties thinks they are worth mentioning." The letter appears just above half-way.

Thousands of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Scotland would be affected by Labour’s tax plans for independent schools, The Telegraph reports. Sir Keir Starmer has said that under plans to add VAT to school fees, children in England with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) would be exempt from the increase. However, the EHCP scheme does not exist in Scotland. The document most closely resembling an EHCP north of the border is a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP), but figures from the Scottish Government’s Registrar of Independent Schools in Scotland show just two per cent of children with SEND have one as they are rare and reserved for children with the most complex special needs. Calling for clarity, Lorraine Davidson, chief executive of SCIS, said: "Fewer than 40 pupils at independent schools have CSPs and there is no automatic right to be considered for one if you attend an independent school. We welcome any discussions between Labour and the Scottish Government on the need to minimise disruption to the education of children, regardless of their background or which part of the system they are being educated in." By Josh Kirby.

In an interview with Mumsnet last year, the shadow education secretary said that the EHCP system was failing families and applications were taking “a long time” to be approved. Bridget Phillipson had told the online platform: "It is a broken system that the government has not prioritised fixing… The system as it currently stands is adversarial, there’s too much pressure there and it will require a reform overall." Outlining his fears over the impact of Labour's tax policy on children with SEND, chair of governors at Frewen College John Stevenson told The Telegraph: “We have enormous concerns because about 60 per cent of our pupils are paid out of public funds but of the 40 per cent who pay our fees themselves they’re going to have to pay VAT.” Reference is made to figures from the ISC. By Noah Eastwood.

In a letter to Moon Hall School, Reigate, Sir Keir Starmer said staff should “work to ensure costs are kept affordable” so the school can cope with his party's proposed tax on school fees. Michelle Catterson, head of the specialist school for dyslexic pupils, has said she is “extremely frustrated” by his suggestion that the school could absorb the additional costs created by the potential tax. Speaking to iNews, she explained how her school would have to forgo planned classroom upgrades and essential maintenance in order to absorb the added cost of VAT. Chief executive of the ISC Julie Robinson said: “Independent schools provide vital SEND support for over 110,000 students – most of whom do not have an education, health and care plan. We are keen to work with Labour to make sure that these children in particular do not have their education adversely affected by VAT on their parents’ fees." ISA CEO Rudolf Eliott Lockhart is also quoted, saying his organisation is “concerned about the consequences for children with special needs resulting from the Labour Party’s VAT policy”. By Connie Dimsdale.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has avoided saying whether the party would scrap a proposed ban on schools in England teaching children about gender identity. In an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC One, Ms Phillipson said there were "good" principles in the guidance but that "other elements" had "drifted far too much into partisan and unnecessary language". By Kate Whannel, BBC News.

The period between the ages of 11 and 14 has been identified as the point at which talented children from low-income backgrounds fall behind their wealthier peers at school, according to new research from University College London. The study tracked high-ability children from the age of five, from the lowest and highest income groups, and found that they progressed at similar rates until the first years of secondary school. By Richard Adams, The Guardian.

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